|
|
|
|
|
|
|
About Canyonlands
National Park
|
|
Location Information
|
|
Operating Hours/Seasons
|
|
Reservations/Permits/Fees
|
|
Facilities and Opportunities (including trails,
camping, concessions)
|
|
Map of Canyonlands National Park
|
|
Map of Utah
|
|
|
|
|
Canyonlands National Park is wild, remote, inhospitable, and terribly
beautiful. It is home to an immense expanse of deep orange-red canyons and
a wonderful array of superlative red rock formations. In addition to being
a feast for the eyes, it provides great opportunities for hiking, mountain
biking, 4wd adventuring, and white water rafting.
Canyonlands is effectively split into three distinct "districts"
by the Colorado and Green rivers. (See map to below.) Since there are no
bridges across the rivers in the park, one must drive great distances to
visit more than one area. Canyonlands should therefore be thought of as
three distinct parks -- the Island in the Sky, the Needles, and the Maze.
Each offers the visitor something a bit different.
The Island
in the Sky District sits on a peninsula 1,200 feet above
the Colorado and Green Rivers with superb views over the incredible
expanse of canyons carved by the two rivers. The entrance to the district
is 32 miles southwest of Moab and it is the most accessible and popular
section of the park.
Though the Needles
District has views of the vast canyons that are the
attraction of the Island in the Sky District, the Needles is primarily
known for the wonderful red sandstone pinnacles from which it derives its
name. It is also home to many other intriguing red rock formations and
remarkable terrain. The entrance to the Needles District is located 75
miles southwest of Moab and 45 miles northwest of Monticello
One geologist has called the Maze
District a "30 square mile puzzle in sandstone." The
"puzzle" is an incredible series of finger like canyons that
provide great hiking opportunities for the adventurous (and proficient).
The infrequently visited Maze District is near nothing and is accessible
only on foot or by 4wd vehicle.
For detailed information on each of these three districts, including
information on hiking, mountain biking, and 4wd adventuring within each
district, select one of the topics from the links to the left. When you're
done browsing, select Print
Canyonlands Guide to efficiently download and print a complete guide
to Canyonlands.
Back to
Canyonlands Details List
|
|
|
|
|
Location:
Canyonlands occupies 525 square miles in southeastern Utah, 40 miles south of I-70. The Island in the Sky District is 32 miles southwest of Moab. The Needles District is 75 miles south of Moab and 45 miles northwest of Monticello. The Maze District is 80 miles south of Green River.
Moab is the most convenient base from which to explore the Island in the Sky District. It is also a good, though more distant, base from which to explore the Needles District. Moab can be reached by plane, train or bus and has several car and 4wd vehicle rental outfits (Select Moab-Practicalities for details.) Monticello is also a decent though smaller base from which to explore the Needles District, but it has no plane, train or bus service and no rental car agencies.
Green River is closest substantial town to the Maze District entrance but it has no plane, train or bus service and no rental car agencies. The Maze District is most easily explored by 4wd vehicle though you can reach the Horseshoe Canyon Unit in a high clearance car and can get close enough to the actual Maze District in a high clearance car to hike or bike in. Address/Telephone:
Visitor center information:
 |
Island in the Sky (435-259-4712) is open daily 8-6 with shortened winter hours.
|
|
The Needles (435-259-4711) is open daily 8-5.
|
|
The Hans Flat Ranger Station (435-259-2652) serves as the Maze Visitor Center. It is opened daily 8-4:30, though you may have to scout around for a ranger during the winter.
|
Directions / Transportation:
See Maps Below
Back to Canyonlands Details
List |
|
|
|
|
Open all year
|
Spring and Fall are the best times to visit the park, as
temperatures are moderate. Summer days are often blisteringly hot.
The park is cold and mostly deserted in winter. Precipitation is
scarce, most of it falling in late summer or early fall. Light snow
falls in winter. The park is never really very crowded, though most
visitors arrive in spring. Seasonal temperature ranges (rounded) in
degrees Fahrenheit are set forth below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spring |
Summer |
Fall |
Winter |
|
Day |
60 to 80 |
80 to 100 |
60 to 80 |
30 to 50 |
|
Night |
20 to 50 |
50 to 60 |
20 to 50 |
0 to 20 |
|
Back
to Canyonlands Details List |
|
|
|
|
|
A $10 entrance fee per vehicle for a seven day pass is charged for the Island in the Sky and Needles Districts. (A single pass is good for both districts.) There is no charge for those with a National Park Pass. The Maze is free. Backcountry camping permits are required for overnight stays - $10 for backpackers and $25 for vehicle camping, which includes bicyclists. Call 435-259-7164 for detailed recorded information. |
Canyon
Country Minimum Impact Practices
|
Each year, millions of visitors enjoy
Canyon Country. The impact of so much use is threatening the area's biological and
cultural resources. You can help protect this fragile and beautiful land by following
these five minimum impact practices.
| Tread lightly when traveling and leave no trace of your camping. Drive and ride only on
roads and trails where such travel is allowed; hike only on established trails, on rock,
or in washes. Camp at designated sites or, where allowed, at previously used sites. Avoid
placing tents on top of vegetation and use a camp stove instead of making a campfire.
Unless signs indicate otherwise, leave gates open or closed as you find them.
|
| Help keep Canyon Country clean. Pack out your trash and recycle it, clean up after less
thoughtful visitors, and dispose of human waste properly.
|
| Protect and conserve scarce desert water sources. Camp at least 300 feet from isolated
water sources to allow for wildlife access. Where possible, carry your own drinking water.
Leave potholes undisturbed and wash well away from pools and springs.
|
| Allow space for wildlife. When encountering wildlife, maintain your distance and remain
quiet. Teach children not to chase or pick up animals. Keep pets under control.
|
| Leave historic sites, Native American rock art ruins and artifacts untouched for the
future. Admire rock art from a distance and never touch it. Stay out of ruins, leave
artifacts in place, and report violations. |
Back to
Canyonlands Details List |
|
|
|
|
|
There is no lodging or dining available within Canyonlands.
Your best options are in Moab or Monticello.
|
|
|
|
|
Moab
|
|
|
|
Moab is a bustling tourist town about 35 miles northeast of the
Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands and 75 miles north of
the Needles district. It has 1,000's of rooms available, though
reservations are advised during the busy spring and Autumn
periods. Select Moab-Lodging
for full information.
Moab also has lots of restaurants and cafes. Select Moab-Dining
for details.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monticello
|
|
|
|
Monticello is a small town (pop. 2,400) at the base of the
Abajo Mountains. At 7,000 feet it has cooler summer temperatures
than most towns in Southeast Utah. It has a good selection of
accommodations and restaurants. Monticello is about 35 miles
southeast of the Needles district of Canyonlands National Park.
Select Monticello
for details.
|
Programs
& Activities:
Details Forthcoming
Camping in the park:
There are 2 established campgrounds in the park. They fill up quickly during spring and fall so you'll want to arrive early for a chance at a spot.
Willow Flat is a primitive campground set rather harshly among desert scrub brush in the Island in the Sky District. Gnats can be troublesome in the summer. 12 sites (2 for RV's); vault toilets; 6,200'; open year round; first-come, first-serve; no fee.
Squaw Flat is a very attractive campground with well spaced sites shaded by trees and rock formations in the Needles District. 26 sites; vault toilets; drinking water; 5,100'; open year round; first-come, first-serve; $8.
Backcountry camping is allowed only within certain areas in Canyonlands. You must bring your own water and no fires are allowed. Vehicle camping (which includes bikes) is permitted only at designated sites along the various 4wd roads. (Campsite locations are shown on the maps for each of the respective districts. See Getting There page for map links.)
Permits are $10 for backpackers and $25 for those with a vehicle or bike. Permits are limited and advanced reservations are highly recommended, especially in spring and fall. They are available by mail or fax. Call 435-259-7164 for detailed recorded information. Permits can also be obtained in person at the visitors centers in the Island in the Sky and Needles districts and at the Hans Flat Ranger Station for the Maze District.
Special Notes: Camping in Chesler Park within the Needles District is restricted to certain reservable sites. You can camp along the rim of Horseshoe Canyon, but not down in it.
Camping Near the Park
There are also numerous public and private campgrounds near the park. Notably close to the Island in the Sky District is the public campground at Dead Horse Point State Park. Close to the entrance to the Needles District is the public campground
Bird Watching:
Details Forthcoming
Accessibility:
Details Forthcoming
Back to Canyonlands Details
List |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 Back
to Canyonlands Details List |
|
|
Click on the Spirit
God to E-mail Daniel Hughes
|
You are Canyonlands visitor  Since November 20th, 1998
|
Canyonlands Info Page Updated on Tuesday, August 06, 2002 06:07 PM
PST
|
Y!
